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Sylvia K. Vitazkova __________________________________________________________________________________ EDUCATION 2005 Columbia University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, NYC, NY Doctor of Philosophy: Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Environmental Biology. Committee co-chairs: Dr. S.E. Wade (Cornell University) and Dr. M. Cords (Columbia University). Dissertation Title: “The effects of demography and ecology on the parasites of wild, black howler monkeys, Alouatta pigra, from Belize and southern Mexico.” 2003 Columbia University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, NYC, NY Advanced Certificate in Environmental Policy: Center for Environmental Research & Conservation 1995 Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences, Ithaca, NY Bachelor of Arts: Neurobiology & Animal Behavior, cum laude __________________________________________________________________________________ ADMINISTRATIVE, RESEARCH, POLICY, AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE May 2006 Graduate Program Coordinator -present Division of Science and Math, Marine Science Center, VI-EPSCoR, University of Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI Leading the development and implementation of a new Master of Marine and Environmental Science program. Partnering with various stakeholders to support research and educational outreach in marine and environmental science. Sept. 2005 Visiting Fellow -May 2006 Parasitology Section, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Continued training in veterinary parasitology. Mentor: Dr. S.E. Wade Jan. 2005 Lecturer -May 2006 Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY Taught “Fundamentals of Biology” laboratory (health professions majors); “Principles of Biology” laboratory (biology majors). Developed and taught “The Biology of Aging” (non-majors). Sept. 2002 Field & Laboratory Researcher -Dec. 2004 Field sites in Belize and Mexico and Parasitology Section, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Designed and carried out doctoral-level research in ecological parasitology. Jan.-May Policy Fellow, Ms. Patricia Evers (CHR), Dr. Clara Cohen (BANR) 2001 Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources: Formed part of team that organized workshop on international agriculture and natural resources management. 2 Committee on Human Rights: Investigated cases of human rights abuse in Colombia. Drafted appeals letters. Attended Congressional briefings, met with legislative aides, and made presentation to Committee at Annual Meeting. Sept. 2000 Field Researcher -Dec. 2000 Estacion Cientifica Yasuní (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador) Napo Province, Ecuador Field research on spider monkey self-medication, interrupted due to safety concerns. Sept. 1996 Graduate Fellow -Aug. 2000 Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Environmental Biology Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, NYC, NY Completed coursework, internships, pilot research, teaching assistantships, qualifying exams and literature review for doctoral degree and certificate in environmental policy. June-Aug. Field Researcher 1999 Estacion Cientifica Yasuní (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador) Napo Province, Ecuador Conducted pilot project on spider monkey self-medication. Jan.-May Graduate Teaching Assistant 1999 Columbia University, New York, NY Life Systems, M. Gompper, K. Giffith, P. Olsen, co-instructors Jan.-June Laboratory Researcher 1998 Dept. of Biology, Barnard College, New York, NY Co-developed and actualized project on self-medication in mice infected with malaria. Participated in IUCUC training course. Jan.-May Graduate Teaching Assistant 1998 Barnard College, New York, NY Animal Behavior, J. Glendinning, instructor Jan.-July Research Assistant 1996 Dr. Linda B. Buck, Dept. of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, and Dept. of Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA Conducted research on mammalian olfactory system. Oversaw daily operation of laboratory. Dec. 1994 Field Researcher -Jan. 1995 La Boca de Nichare, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela Gathered data for undergraduate Honors Thesis on Ye’Kuana ethnozoology. Aug.-Dec. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, 1994 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY The History of Evolution, W.B. Provine, instructor May 1993 Undergraduate Field Research Assistant -Aug. 1993 Antizana Mountain National Park & Cuyabeno Faunal Reserve, Ecuador 3 Assisted research on red-backed hawks, caimans, parrots and limnology. __________________________________________________________________________________ PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS In preparation Vitazkova, S.K. Parasitism in Alouatta sp.: Implications for Human-wildlife Interactions. In: Primate Parasite Ecology: The Dynamics and Study of Host-Parasite Relationships, Huffman, M.A. and Chapman, C.A. eds. (Cambridge University Press) Accepted Vitazkova, S.K. and Wade, S.E. The effects of ecology on the endoparasites of Alouatta pigra. International Journal of Primatology In press Vitazkova, S.K. and Wade, S.E. Parasites of free ranging black howler monkeys, Alouatta pigra, in Belize and Mexico. American Journal of Primatology Online Huffman, M.A. and Vitazkova, S.K. Primates, plants, and parasites: the evolution of publication animal self-medication and ethnomedicine. In: Ethnopharmacology, from Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), Developed under the Auspices of the UNESCO, Eolss Publishers, Oxford ,UK, [http://www.eolss.net] 2001 Vitazkova, S. K., E. Long, A. Paul, and J. I. Glendinning. Mice suppress malaria infection by sampling a “bitter” chemotherapy agent. Animal Behaviour Vol. 61(5):887-894 __________________________________________________________________________________ REPORTS 2001 The human rights situation of scientists in Colombia Presentation to Committee on Human Rights, National Academies, Washington, D.C. 1995 Ethnozoology of Ye’Kuana Indians in Venezuela Honors Thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY __________________________________________________________________________________ SEMINARS & CONFERENCES May 2005 Ctr. for Environmental Research & Conservation, Columbia University, NYC, NY Seminar: Demographic and Ecological Factors Affecting the Parasites or Free- Ranging Black Howler monkeys, Alouatta pigra, from Belize and Mexico Oct. 2001 Primates in Biomedical Research: Diseases & Pathology, Gottingen, Germany Oral presentation: Chemoprophylaxis and self-medication in mammals Nov. 1999 International Conference on Ethnomedicine & Drug Discovery, Silver Springs, MD Poster presentation: Zoopharmacognosy: Healing in the Animal Kingdom Nov. 1997 International Working Group on Sustainable Livelihoods, UNDP, Pearl River, NY Rapporteur/Invited student participant Mar. 1997 Building Bridges with Traditional Knowledge, University of FL, Gainesville, FL Poster presentation: Ye’Kuana Ethnozoology 4 __________________________________________________________________________________ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Jan. 2006 Workshop participant: “Listening Skills” and “Personal Strengths: Identifying and Applying Strengths For Success In Teaching and Learning” Center for Learning and Teaching, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY May 2005 Workshop participant: “Creating Significant Learning Experiences” Center for Teaching Excellence, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY __________________________________________________________________________________ PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 2003 Animal Behavior Society 2005 Society for Conservation Biology __________________________________________________________________________________ AWARDS 2002 Dimitri N. Chorafas Foundation Award 1996-2004 Columbia University Faculty Fellowship in Natural Sciences 1997 National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Dissertation Grant Honorable Mention 1992-1995 Cornell Tradition Arthur “Cully” Bryant, ‘00 Named Fellow for public service __________________________________________________________________________________ LANGUAGE SKILLS English Native speaker Slovak Native speaker Spanish Fluent speaking skills, competent writing skills French Written and spoken comprehension __________________________________________________________________________________ COMPUTER SKILLS Software Word, Excel, Power Point, EndNote, SPSS, SAS for Windows; WebCT Hardware PC and Macintosh interfaces __________________________________________________________________________________ OTHER 1998-2005 Yoga Instructor, various studios in New York, NY, Boston, MA and Ithaca, NY 1997-1998 Riding Instructor, Claremont Riding Academy, New York, NY 2002 Atma Vikasa Yoga Vigyana Mandira: Yoga Teacher Certification, Mysore, India 1996 Aerobic Fitness Association of America: Aerobic Instructor Certificate 1994 NAUI: Open, Advanced, Deep Sea, and Night Diver SCUBA certification 1994 Australian Surf Rescue Club: Bronze Medal Certification, Manly Beach, Australia